Practical_expressions

Part I EXPRESS

YOURSELF

A.SOCIAL FORMULAS (PAGE 138)

1.Greeting someone

2.Starting a conversation

3.Introducing yourself

4.Introducing someone

5.Answering an introduction

6.Attracting someone's attention

7.Asking how someone is

8.Saying how you are

9.Thanking

10.Responding to thanks

11.Congratulating

12.Complimenting

13.Responding to compliments or congratulations

14.Saying sorry

15.Accepting an apology

16.Leaving someone politely for a short time

17.Expressing good wishes

18.Responding to good wishes

19.Giving someone good wishes on a special occasion

20.Responding to good wishes on a special occasion

21.Ending a conversation

22.Saying goodbye

B. COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES (PAGE

141)

1.Finding out about appropriateness

2.Finding out about meaning

3.Finding out about correctness.

4.Finding out about spelling

5.Finding out about pronunciation

6.Summing up

7.Giving time to think

8.Taking up a point

9.Showing you are listening

10.Giving an example

11.Saying something in another way

12.Saying something again

13.Checking if you are understood

14.Checking that you understand

15.Asking someone to say something

C. EXCHANGING INFORMATION (PAGE 143)

1.Asking for information

2.Asking if someone knows about something

3.Saying you know

4.Saying you do not know

5.Stating something is different

6.Asking for detailed information

7.Asking to pass information

8.Finding out about the source of information

9.Asking for new information

10.Asking to clarify circumstances

11.Saying the information is not correct

12.Saying the information is correct

13.Verifying the information

14.Expressing doubt about the source of information

15.Reminding and informing at the same time

16.Adding more information

17.Asking if something is correct

18.Saying something is correct

19.Saying something is not correct

20.Correcting someone

21.Asking if someone is sure about something

22.Saying you are sure

23.Saying you are not sure

24.Expressing curiosity

25.Reminding

26.Asking if someone remembers

27.Saying you remember

28.Saying you have forgotten

D.INTERPERSONAL INTERACTION AND ATTITUDES (PAGE 147)

1.Talking about what might happen

2.Asking how someone feels before something happens

3.Asking how someone feels

4.Saying you hope

5.Asking for advice

6.Advising someone to do something

7.Advising someone not to do something

8.Telling someone to do something

9.Telling 'someone' how to do something

10.Saying someone should not do something

11.Saying someone must not do something

12.Asking if you are obliged to do something

13.Saying someone is obliged to do something

14.Saying what you think you ought to do

15.Saying what you think you ought not to do

16.Asking if someone agrees

17.Agreeing

18.Disagreeing

19.Saying you partly agree

20.Saying you are wrong and someone else is right

21.Asking for permission

22.Giving permission

23.Refusing permission

24.Asking if someone is able to do something

25.Saying you are able to do something

26.Saying you are not able to do something

27.Refusing to do something

28.Offering something

29.Offering to do something for someone

30.Accepting an offer of something

31.Declining an offer of something

32.Accepting an offer of help

33.Refusing an offer of help

34.Asking for someone's opinion

35.Expressing your opinion

36.Trying to change someone's opinion

37.Saying you have no opinion

38.Avoiding giving an opinion

39.Inviting someone

40.Accepting an invitation

41.Declining an invitation

42.Saying something is important

43.Saying something is not important

44.Asking if someone is interested

45.Showing your interest

46.Saying you are not interested

47.Giving reasons

48.Promising

49.Comparing

50.Giving something to someone

Part II CLASSROOM

LANGUAGE

A. STUDENT'S GUIDE (PAGE 162)

1.Being late

2.Being absent

3.While learning

4.Using media

5.Taking turns

6.Asking about correctness

7.Asking about language

8.Requests

9.Offering help

51.Saying what you want

52.Saying you have reached agreement

53.Warning

54.Asking about preference

55.Saying what you prefer

56.Asking about liking

57.Expressing liking

58.Expressing disliking

69.Saying you are willing to do something

60.Saying you are willing to do something under certain conditions

61.Saying you are unwilling to do something

62.Showing optimism

63.Saying you are looking forward to something

64.Showing pessimism

65.Saying you are worried

66.Saying you are bored

67.Expressing excitement

68.Showing relief

69.Showing irritation and anger

70.Showing sympathy

71.Persuading

72.Complaining

73.Encouraging

74.Requesting

75.Suggesting

76.Threatening

77.Expressing disappointment

78.Expressing surprise

79.Calming or reassuring someone

80.Asking if someone approves

81.Expressing approval

82.Expressing disapproval

B. TEACHER'S GUIDE (PAGE 164)

1.Attracting attention

2.Organizing students' learning activity

3.Assessing students' work

4.Teacher - student interaction

5.Explaining how to learn English

6.Relating English and Turkish

7.Teaching to comprehend

8.Making English your own

9.Right or wrong

10.Trying to improve

11.Using grammar and vocabulary

12.Teaching pronunciation

13.Working with exercises.

14.Communicating at the blackboard

15.Miscellaneous

A. SOCIAL FORMULAS

1. Greeting someone

Informal

Morning!

Hello, there!

Hello, everybody!

Evening!

Afternoon!

Less Formal

You are just the person I want to see! The very man I was after!

Good to see you!

Formal

Good morning! Good evening! Good afternoon!

2. Starting a conversation

Informal

Warm, isn't it?

Hot, isn't it?

Hello!

Less Formal

Windy, isn't it?

Terrible day, isn't it?

Starting to rain, isn't it?

Sorry, but...

Nice weather, isn't it?

Lovely day, isn't it?

Freezing, isn't it?

Cold, isn't it?

Formal

I hope you don't mind my asking, but …

I beg your pardon, but...

Forgive me for asking, but...

Excuse my asking...

Excuse me, but...?

Excuse me...

Excuse me asking, but...?

Do excuse me, but...?

3. Introducing yourself

Informal

Hello! ... I'm...

Hello!

Evening!

Afternoon!

Less Formal

Hello? This is...

Hello? My name's...

Hello? ... speaking.

Formal

May I introduce myself?

How do you do? My name's...

Good morning!

First let me introduce myself.

Excuse me!

Excuse me, my name's...

Allow me to introduce myself.

138 PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS

4. Introducing someone

Less Formal

Oh, Paul, I'd like someone to meet.

Oh look, here's Mary. Mary meet...

I'd like to introduce...

Paul, may I introduce Mary?

Formal

This is...

Let me introduce...

Have you met...?

Do you know...?

By the way, do you know each other?

Allow me to introduce...

5. Answering an introduction

Less Formal

Yes, we've already met. Pleased to meet you.

I've been wanting to meet you. Good to meet you.

Formal

No, I haven't yet had the pleasure. No, I don't think so. How do you do? No, I don't think I do. How do you do? I'm delighted to meet you...

How do you do?

6. Attracting someone's attention

Informal

Look...

Listen...

Less Formal

Sorry, but...

Sorry to butt in, but...

Excuse me butting in, but...

Formal

Sorry to trouble/bother you, but...

May I have your attention, please? I wonder if we could begin? Excuse me!

7. Asking how someone is

Informal

What's the latest?

What's new?

How's life treating you?

How is it going?

How are things with you?

Are you better?

How's life?

Are you well?

Less Formal

How are you?

How are you keeping?

8. Saying how you are

Informal

Surviving, thanks.

Still alive, thanks.

So-so, thanks.

Pretty fair, thanks.

OK, thanks.

Mustn't grumble.

I'm on top of the world, thanks.

Can't complain.

Less Formal

Not so bad, thanks.

I'm fine, thank you.

All right, thank you.

Formal

Very well, thank you. Quite well, thank you.

I'm very well indeed, thank you. I'm extremely well, thank you.

9. Thanking

Informal

Thanks a million for ...

Great!

Cheers!

Less Formal

That is really nice of you to....

Thanks very much for....

Thanks a lot.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for....

Many thanks.

I really can't thank you enough.

Formal

That is most good of you. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you so very much for....

Much appreciated.

I'm very much obliged. I'm much obliged.

I'm immensely grateful to you for....

I should like to say how deeply grateful I am. I should like to express my gratitude.

I should like to express my appreciation for...

I do appreciate ... very much. I'm very grateful to you.

10. Responding to thanks

Informal

That's all right.

That's 0. K.

Thank you.

Any time.

Less Formal

You're welcome.

Not at all.

My pleasure.

It's a pleasure.

Don't mention it.

Delighted I was able to help.

Formal

You would have done the same in my place. No trouble at all.

It was the least I could do.

I'm glad to have been able to help. I was glad to be of help to you.

11. Congratulating

Informal

It was great to hear...

Fantastic!

Less Formal

Well done!

Congratulations!

Congratulations on...

Formal

Please accept my warmest congratulations. Please accept my heartiest congratulations on… May I congratulate you on...?

Let me congratulate you. I'd like to congratulate you.

I'd like to be the first to congratulate you. I must congratulate you on...

Allow me to offer my warmest congratulations. Allow me to offer my congratulations on...

12. Complimenting

Informal

You're looking good!

You look terrific.

What a super...!

You are fantastic.

I love...! You look great.

I like...!

Less Formal

You're looking rather smart. You look smart.

What a nice smart...

Those are very smart... you're wearing.

... suits you very well.

Formal

You're looking extremely glamorous. My compliments on...

May I say how elegant you look?

If I may say so, ... is quite delicious. If I may say so, ... is quite charming. If I may say so, ... are excellent.

I really must express my admiration for...

I must say ... is really very good. I must congratulate you on....

13.Responding to compliments or congratulations

Informal

Oh! ... is nothing special really.

Flattery'll get you nowhere!

Less Formal

You seem very well yourself, as a matter of fact. Thank you.

Oh, thanks. Oh, not really.

It's nice of you to say so. I'm glad you think so. I'm glad you like....

Formal

Thank you very much for saying so. It's very good of you to say so.

14. Saying sorry

Informal

Sorry for...

Sorry about...

I feel bad about...

Less Formal

My fault.

I'm very sorry.

I'm very sorry about...

I'm sorry...!

I'm really awfully sorry for...

I beg your pardon.

I am terribly sorry...

How stupid of me...

Formal

Please, forgive me.

Please, accept my apologies.

Pardon me.

Pardon me for...

May I offer you my sincerest apologies?

I'm sorry, that was entirely my fault.

I'm extremely sorry for...

I'm extremely sorry...

I must apologize.

I do apologize for...

I can't tell you how sorry I am for...

15. Accepting an apology

Informal

That's 0. K.

Please, don't feel bad about it.

Let's forget it.

Forget it.

Don't give it another thought.

Less Formal

Think nothing of it.

There's no reason to apologize.

That's quite all right.

Please, don't worry.

Not at all.

Of course.

It's really not necessary.

It's perfectly all right.

It really doesn't matter at all.

All right.

Formal

It's really of no importance.

16.Leaving someone politely for a short time

Informal

I'll catch you up.

I'll be right back.

Don't wait for me.

Less Formal

Excuse me.

Excuse me; I'll be back in a moment. Excuse me, I shan't be a moment. Excuse me, I must just...

Excuse me a minute.

Excuse me ... I'll be back in a second.

Formal

Would you excuse me, please...?

Will you excuse me for a moment, please? I wonder if you'd excuse me...?

17. Expressing good wishes

Informal

Say hello to John for me.

Have fun!

Good luck!

Have a good time!

Give my love to Mary.

Enjoy yourselves!

All the very best!

All the best!

Less Formal

The very best of luck!

Regards to...

Good luck in...!

All the best in...!

Formal

Would you give ... my best wishes? Please, remember me to...

I'd like to wish you every success in...

I wish you success.

I hope everything goes well. Hope things go well with...

Every success in...!

18. Responding to good wishes

Informal

Thanks!

Less Formal

Very many thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you very much!

19.Giving someone good wishes on a special occasion

Less Formal

Happy birthday! Happy anniversary!

A merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Formal

The season's greetings to you! (at Christmas) Please, accept my best wishes on the occasion of...

May I wish you a happy birthday! Many happy returns of the day!

I should like to offer you my best wishes on the occasion of......

20.Responding to good wishes on a special occasion

Informal

Thank you.

You too!

Less Formal

Thank you. And the same to you!

Thank you. And a happy New Year to you too!

21. Ending a conversation

Informal

Well, better to going, I suppose. Sorry, I've got to rush.

Sorry, I must be off now.

I've got to make a phone call, sorry.

Less Formal

I'm (awfully) sorry, but I'm meeting someone....

Formal

It's been very nice/interesting talking to you,

but....

I'm afraid I must go now.

I must apologize, but I'm afraid....

I hope you'll excuse me, but....

I'm afraid I really must go.

B.COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES

1.Finding out about appropriateness

Less Formal

Would it be too formal to say...?

What should I say if I want to...?

What should I say...?

Should I use ... if...?

Is ... a neutral sort of word?

If I want ..., what should I say?

If I say ... is it more polite than...?

If ..., should I say ... or...?

How do you say that in English?

Formal

When is it appropriate to say,...?

Is it appropriate to say ... if...?

2. Finding out about meaning

Less Formal

When would you use the word...? When would you use the expression...?

What's the difference between ... and...? What other words are there for...?

What is the opposite of...? What is another word for...?

What is another way of saying...?

What is a/the word to describe someone who …? What does ... mean?

What do you call someone who...? What do you call ... that...?

Is there a difference in meaning between …? What is the word for...?

22. Saying goodbye

Informal

Goodbye!

Take care. Bye!

See you tomorrow!

Lots of love, Mary.

Look after yourself. Bye!

I'll be seeing you!

Goodbye for now.

Cheers!

Cheerio!

Bye-bye!

Less Formal

Goodbye!

I'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Goodbye now.

Formal

Goodbye

I don't understand this sentence. Can you help

What does this mean?

3. Finding out about correctness

Informal

When do you use..?

Can you give me an example for …?

Less Formal

Can I say …?

Is that the right word?

Formal

Will you tell me how to use ..., please?

Will you correct me if I make a mistake, please? Which is correct: ... or...?

Is this sentence correct? Is it correct to say…?

4. Finding out about spelling

Less Formal

Can you check my pronunciation for me, please? Do you spell ... with...?

How do you spell...?

I'm not sure if I've spelt this word correctly? Is this the correct spelling...?

Will you check my spelling, please?

5. Finding out about pronunciation

Less Formal

What intonation should I use if I want to express...?

How do you pronounce this word? How do you pronounce this name? Do you say ... or...?

Formal

Will you correct me if I pronounce something wrongly, please?

What is the right way to pronounce this word?

6. Summing up

Informal

I nearly forgot...!

Less Formal

While I remember, … To summarize, …

To sum up, ...

To put it in a nutshell, (then) ...

The point I'm making is … The basic question is …

So what it comes down to is … So what I'm saying is …

Just to change the subject … Incidentally …

In other words … In a word …

I think we ought to move on to...

I know what I meant to tell you...

I know what I meant to ask you...

7. Giving time to think

Informal

It's on the tip of my tongue...

What's it called …?

Now what was the word...?

Just let me think about this a moment! Just let me get this right!

I've nearly got it! Sort of...

Less Formal

You see …

You know …

What is he called...?

Let me see …

Just a moment …

How shall I put it …?

How can I put this...?

Formal

May I think about that for a moment?

8. Taking up a point

Informal

Sorry to butt in, but did I hear you say...?

Less Formal

You mentioned ... just now. What a coincidence! ...

To go back to what you were saying about … Talking of …

Surprising you should say so, because … Strange you should say that …

Sorry to interrupt, but …

It's interesting you should say so, because … That reminds me of...

Formal

To take up your point ...

If I may refer back to …

If I may just go back for a moment to …

9. Showing you are listening

Informal

Well, well!

Well I never! Indeed?

Tell me more.

Really! Really?

I see.

Fancy that!

Less Formal

Oh, yes. No!

I know what you mean. How interesting!

Has it? Does it?

10. Giving an example

Less Formal

Take ... for instance/for example. Like ... for example.

Look at ...

Such as ...

… for instance. …for example.

Formal

To illustrate this point ...

To give you an example of this ...

An example of this would be ...

Let me take an example:...

11.Saying something in another way

Informal

What I'm getting at is ...

What I'm driving at is ...

All I'm trying to say is, ...

All I mean is ...

Less Formal

What I meant was ...

What I mean is, ...

That's to say, ...

In other words, ...

Basically, ...

What I'm trying to say is, ...

..., or rather, ...

..., or better, ...

Formal

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say ...

Perhaps I should make that clearer by saying …

Let me put it another way: ...

If I can rephrase that what I've just said: ...

12. Saying something again

Less Formal

What I said was,…

I was just wondering ...

I was just saying…

I was just asking…

I said, ...

Formal

I was putting forward the opinion ...

I was merely stating the fact ...

I was just expressing the view ...

13. Checking if you are

understood

Informal

Right?

Know what I mean?

Got it?

Get it?

Are you with me?

Less Formal

That's clear, isn't it?

Is that reasonably clear?

I don't know if I am making myself clear. Have I made myself clear?

Does that seem to make sense? Do you understand...?

Do you see?

Do you see what I mean?

Do you know what I'm getting at? Do you know what I'm driving at? Do you know what I mean?

Do I make myself clear?

... if you see what I mean.

... if you follow.

... if you follow my meaning. I hope that's clear?

Formal

If there's anything you haven't understood, please, say so.

... if you take my point.

14. Checking that you understand

Informal

Sorry, I'm not quite with you ...

If I've got the picture, then ...

Can I get this clear?

Less Formal

That means .... Right?

Sorry, I'm not quite with what you've said. So is the basic idea that ...?

So am I right in saying ...? So ...?

Just to be quite certain about this ...

In other words .... Right?

I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand. If I've understood right, ...

If I've got it right, then ...

If I understand ...

Does this mean ...? Does that mean ...? Do you mean...?

Formal

Would I be right in supposing...?

Would I be correct in saying ...?

So, if I take your meaning rightly, ...

If I've followed you ...

If I understand you correctly ...

If I follow you rightly, then ...

15. Asking someone to say something

Informal

Sorry, I didn't get any of that.

Less Formal

What was the first word? Pardon?

I'm sorry?

I'm sorry, what was that word? I'm sorry, what did you say?

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear what you said. I'm sorry, I didn't hear ...

I didn't catch ...

Formal

Would you repeat what you said?

I'm sorry, would you mind repeating ... please? I'm sorry, could I ask you to repeat that sentence? I beg your pardon?

C. EXCHANGING

INFORMATION

1. Asking for information

Informal

Have you got any idea ...?

Less Formal

I'd like to know ...

Could anyone tell me ...?

Can you tell me ... (please)?

Can you help me?

Do you happen to know ...?

Formal

Will you kindly tell me... (please)? Sorry to trouble you, but is ...?

I wonder if you could tell me ...

I wonder if someone could tell me ...

I hope you don't mind my asking, but ...? Excuse me, do you know ...?

Could you tell me ..., (please)?

2.Asking if someone knows about something

Less Formal

You know about ... don't you?

Have you heard about ...?

Have you got any idea about ...?

Has Mary told you ...?

Do you realize ...?

Did you know about ...?

Did you know ...?

Did Mary tell you ...?

Formal

I wonder if you could let me know ...? Excuse me, do you know anything about ...? Sorry to bother you, but do you know ...?

Could you give me any information about (on) .....

please?

Are you aware of ...?

3. Saying you know

Informal

So Mary was saying (the same).

Less Formal

You have told me about ...

Yes, I know ... thanks.

Yes, I have heard about ...

Yes, I do appreciate ...

They say ...

That's what I heard.

So I've been told.

My information is ...

I've been told about ...

It appears (looks)...

In fact, I did know about ...

I hear ...

I do know about ...

I am quite/fully aware of ...

He has it on good authority that they will come

tomorrow. (nearly certain)

Did you know about ...?

4. Saying you do not know

Informal

I wish I knew ...

I haven't got the faintest idea about ...

I haven't got a clue ...

I don't know the first thing about ...

Less Formal

I'm sorry, I really don't know ...

I'm afraid, I've no idea ...

I'm afraid, I don't know much about...

I'm afraid, I don't know anything about ...

I can't guess what ...

Formal

I'm sorry to say that ... is not something I know

very much about.

I'm afraid, I haven't got that information.

I'm afraid, I have to say I know very little about...

I'm afraid it escapes my mind ...

I have to admit I don't know a great deal about …

I am not able to help you with your request ...

5. Stating something is different

Informal

But her behavior doesn't ...

But it's not a proof. What I know ...

But you remember ...

I heard people say, that ...

It's a pity he isn't here. He would ...

It's pretty difficult to believe ...

Unbelievable! I thought ...

You are the first man to ...

6. Asking for detailed information

Informal

Will it be 0. K. if I ask you to ...?

I'd love to know more ...

I'd like to get clear about ...

Less Formal

Can you add some more ...?

Formal

Would you mind giving it in more detail? We should clarify this matter, I think.

I really want some detailed information...

Could you kindly tell me more about ...? Can I find out some details about ...?

7. Asking to pass information

Less Formal

Would you mind telling him about ...? Excuse me, could you just phone her and ...? Will it be convenient for you to ...?

I'd be most grateful if you could remind him of ...

Could you pass this information on to ..., please? Can you pass this news to ...?

Formal

Would you kindly convey this ...?

Will you kindly inform ... about?

Could you kindly tell ...?

8. Finding out about the source of information

Informal

Where did you get all this from?

Less Formal

Who did you hear this from?

How did he come to know all that ...? Did he happen to know ...?

Are you sure he is the right person to say that ...?

Formal

Do you feel confident about ...?

Can you rely on his information ...?

9. Asking for new information

Informal

Anything new about ...?

Less Formal

Would you mind telling me any news about ...? Is there any new information on ...?

I'm sorry to bother you but I'd like to know something in addition to ...

Do you know anything else about ...?

Do let me know, please, when you get some news about ...

Formal

Will you kindly tell me something about the latest developments?

I'd appreciate some more information concerning ...

Could you possibly tell me more about ...?

10. Asking to clarify circumstances

Less Formal

What's the actual cause of ...?

What do you think about...?

I don't believe he could just...

Why did he ...?

Who was he influenced by?

What did he require that for?

11.Saying the information is not correct

Informal

Nothing of the kind!

I've never heard anything like that. I don't think you are right.

I don't believe a single word of what you are saying.

Less Formal

You are wrong.

You are not telling us the truth.

It's not right.

It's not correct.

I can't rely on it, I'm sorry.

Formal

Your information is not correct.

I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. I'm of the opinion that it's not true.

I might have misunderstood you, but ...

Are you sure you are correct?

12. Saying the information is correct

Informal

You've hit the nail on the head.

That's where the shoe pinches.

Right you are!

Less Formal

You are on the right track.

It's true.

I can't help believing this.

Exactly!

Formal

You can rely on this.

The information is most reliable.

It cannot be otherwise.

I'm sure this information is correct.

13. Verifying the information

Informal

I didn't quite catch what ...?

Less Formal

Will you say it again, please?

Sorry?

Is it true that ...?

Is it definite ...?

I don't quite get the idea, I think.

Do you really mean that?

Do you mean to say that ...? Do you believe that yourself?

Could you remember what you said last time? Can you repeat what you've just said?

Can you prove it? Are you sure ...?

Formal

Would you mind saying it again?

Pardon?

I am sure you didn't mean that ....

Did he assert that?

Can you confirm the fact?

Am I right to understand that ...?

14.Expressing doubt about the source of information

Less Formal

I'm really in two minds ...

I think he doesn't tell us the truth. I don't think we should believe him.

I don't think I can rely on his information. I can hardly believe that.

How could you believe (rely on) such news? How can he know that?

He would never say such a thing. He is not the man to ...

And still I don't feel confident ...

Formal

There's still an element of doubt about what you say.

15.Reminding and informing at the same time

Less Formal

Do you remember that you are to ...?

I'm sorry to remind you of ...

Excuse me, didn't you forget to ...?

You remember you had to ...?

I'd like to mention ...

My request was ...

Do you happen to remember that ...

16. Adding more information

Less Formal

To go on with ...

So far as you ...

I'd like to add ...

By the way ...

As far as ...

Formal

To continue ...

To conclude ...

To avoid any misunderstanding ...

To add ...

Regarding ...

In connection with the above said ...

In connection with ...

Concerning ...

As regards ...